Fire inflicts no damage to 14th-century Rab’-e Rashidi

TEHRAN – The fire that broke out in Rab’-e Rashidi in northwestern East Azarbaijan province on Wednesday has inflicted no damage to the 14th-century educational complex. 

Iran getting Asbads ready for UNESCO tag

TEHRAN – Several centuries-old windmills, locally called Asbads, that are still standing tall in Hamun county, southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, are being restored in order to be prepared for possible inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Coronavirus: Yazd hosts only 20 foreign tourists in spring 

TEHRAN – The central province of Yazd, a traditional heaven for cultural travelers, has hosted only 20 international tourists as well as 300 domestic travelers so far in spring, provincial tourism chief has said. 

Restoration begins on Zanjan’s Chehel Sotoun Mosque

TEHRAN – A restoration project has been commenced on parts of Chehel Sotoun Mosque in Zanjan, west-central Iran, CHTN reported on Friday. 

By Faranak Bakhtiari

World Environment Day: Iran outlines plan to protect its rich biodiversity

TEHRAN – Because the most important part of wildlife conservation is habitat preservation, the Department of Environment (DOE) has developed several national programs, 10 of which are underway, and 10 others will soon be finalized to implement, Shahaboddin Montazemi, director of the wildlife's conservation office at the DOE told the Tehran Times.

Coronavirus: Iran preparing to reopen doors to foreign travelers

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism ministry has forecast that the country will start hosting foreign travelers as of mid-summer with the priority given to travelers from the neighboring countries.

Motorcycle rally held in memory of Imam Khomeini

TEHRAN – Some Iranian motorcyclists took part in a rally on Wednesday towards the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini to commemorate the 31st demise anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Revolution.

Tehran’s historical towers turn off lights in honor of Imam Khomeini

TEHRAN – Tehran’s historical towers turned off lights on June 2 and remained dark to commemorate the death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Revolution.

By Mahmood Monshipouri, PhD

The implications of declining U.S. leadership

The Trump administration’s ongoing policy of withdrawal from international institutions—including the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the 2016 Paris Climate Change Accord, the Open Skies Treaty, and now the World Health Organization (WHO) in the middle of the greatest global health crisis—demonstrates the declining U.S. leadership ever since the post-World War II order was created.  This latest move is made at a time when the world relies heavily on the WHO’s leadership to steer the COVID-19 pandemic response.  

Zarif says Trump advisors made a ‘dumb bet’ by inciting him to quit JCPOA

TEHRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s advisors, that now most of them have been dismissed, made a “dumb bet” by encouraging him to quit the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as JCPOA.

Iran confirms talks with Richardson over Michael White’s release

TEHRAN - Iran confirmed on Friday that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had discussed prisoner releases with former U.S. ambassador Bill Richardson.

Iran urges France to stop interference in its domestic affairs

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has urged France to stop interfering in Iran’s domestic affairs.

By staff and agency

Russia says sanctions for Iran oil supply to Venezuela are unacceptable

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said on Thursday that threats hurled by the United States at other governments of imposing sanctions in case they facilitate supplies of Iranian oil to Venezuela are unacceptable.

What’s in Tehran art galleries

* Paintings by Elahyar Najafi are currently on view in an exhibition at Aran Gallery.

AFC announces proposed dates for upcoming Asian Qualifiers

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in consultation with FIFA, has announced the proposed match dates for the remaining matches of Round 2 in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers, which were originally scheduled to take place in March and June 2020.

“Damoon Jungle” competing in Taiwan Intl. Children’s Film Festival

TEHRAN – The Iranian animation “Damoon Jungle, Yes or No”, about an elephant that is learning to say “no”, is competing in the Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (TICFF).

French dramatist Antoine Rault’s “Le Systeme” to appear in Persian 

TEHRAN – Iranian dramatist and director Golchehr Damghani is currently working on a Persian translation of “Le Systeme” by French dramatist and novelist Antoine Rault.

Culture minister speaks at webinar on Imam Khomeini, Nelson Mandela 

TEHRAN – Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi attended a webinar on Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, and the South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela on Wednesday.

Tehran meeting studies influence of Imam Khomeini on Persian literature

TEHRAN – The Iran Public Libraries Foundation organized a session last Tuesday to discuss the influence of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, on Persian poetry and literature.

Children’s writer Susan Taqdis’s last book published

TEHRAN – The last book by Iranian children’s author Susan Taqdis, who died in April, has been published.

Global music streaming providers offering Hossein Alizadeh’s “Radif Navazi”

TEHRAN – Several international music streaming and media services providers, including Spotify in Sweden and Rockol in Italy, are offering “Radif Navazi” (Playing Radifs), an educational album of Iranian traditional music by tar virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh. 

Mexican magazine Central spotlights health workers with cartoon by Alireza Pakdel 

TEHRAN – Central, a magazine on art, entertainment and health based in Mexico City, has spotlighted the medical workers on the front line of the campaign against COVID-19 by publishing a cartoon by Iranian artist Alireza Pakdel on the front cover of its June-July edition.

U.S. Senate approves Trump pick to lead Voice of America

TEHRAN — U.S. Senate on Thursday approved President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded international broadcasters that have been criticized by the White House over claims of unfavorable news coverage.

Rouhani to Trump: Holding Bible to justify violence against Americans is ‘shameful’

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that it is “shameful” that President Donald Trump holds Bible in his own hand to justify violence against Americans who are protesting the death of a black man by a White policeman.

Iran condemns new U.S. sanctions on Syria

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Friday condemned new sanctions of the United States on Syria and urged removal of them.

Imam proved U.S. knee can be forced off the neck of the oppressed: Ghalibaf

TEHRAN — New Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Imam Khomeini proved to the world that the United States’ knee can be forced off the neck of the oppressed.

FFIRI removes sport minister from its statutes

TEHRAN- The Secretary General of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) Mehdi Mohammad Nabi said that the name of Sports and Youths Minister Masoud Soltanifar has been removed from the new Statutes of the federation.

Iranian students rally in solidarity with African Americans

TEHRAN — Iranian students and rights activists gathered outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran on Wednesday to express solidarity with African Americans over the shocking killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white police.

GSI carries out exploration operations on 150,000 sq.km in a year

TEHRAN – Deputy head of Geological Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI) says the organization has carried out exploration operations on 150,000 square kilometers of land in the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended on March 19).